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Self-Identity

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St. Augustine and being

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Abstract

This term “self-identity” is a more or less idiomatic rendering of Augustine’s idipsum — literally, “it itself”

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References

  1. Phaedo, 78 D.

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  2. Plato, ibid.

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  3. Commentary on Psalm CXXI, 5 (PL 37, 1622).

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  4. “Quid est ergo’ idipsum’ nisi quod est? Quid est quod est? Quod aeternum est. Nam quod semper aliter atque aliter est, non est quia non manet: non omnino non est, sed non summe est.” Ibid.

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  5. E.g., Parmenides, 132 D; Phaedo, 101 C.

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  6. Cf. Sophist, 256 A-259 C.

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  7. Republic, VI, 509 B.

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  8. Enneads, III, 8.8-9; V, 1.7.

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  9. Enneads, V, 1.10; V, 2.1; V, 3.12; VI, 7.17.

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  10. Enneads, III, 8.10-11; V, 1.7.

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  11. Cf. Augustine, Commentary on Psalm CXXI, 5 (PL 37, 1622); The Trinity, III, 2.8 (PL 42, 842).

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  12. On the Christian Way of Life, I, 14.24 (PL 32, 1321).

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  13. See above, Chapter II.

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  14. “Viderunt isti philosophi [sc, Platonici] … nullum corpus esse Deum: et ideo cuncta corpora transcenderunt, quaerentes summum Deum. Viderunt quidquid mutabile est, non esse summum Deum; et ideo oranem animam mutabilisque omnes Spiritus transcenderunt, quaerentes summum Deum. Deinde viderunt omnem speciem in re quacumque mutabili, qua est quidquid illud est, quoque modo et qualiscumque natura est, non esse posse, nisi ab illo quid vere est, quia incommutabili-ter.” The City of God, VIII, 6 (PL 41, 231).

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  15. Cf. On Christian Doctrine, II, 12.17 (PL 34,43); The Trinity, XV, 2.2 (PL 12, 1057).

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  16. Cf. Against Julian the Pelagian, IV, 14.72 (PL 44, 774).

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  17. Epistle CXXXVII, 4.15 (PL 33, 522).

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  18. Against Julian the Pelagian, loc. cit.; On the True Religion, V, 8 (PL 34, 126).

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  19. Sermon VI, 3.4 (PL 38, 61).

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  20. Sermon VII, 7.7 (PL 38, 66).

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  21. Above, Chapter IL

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  22. Above, Chapter III.

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  23. Commentary on Psalm CXXI, 5 (PL 37, 1672); cf. Confessions, XIII, 31.46 (PL 32, 865).

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  24. “Le Dieu d’Augustin est … le Dieu Chretien en ceci qu’il est l’Étre, mais la notion d’existence, caractéristique de Jehovah, est interprétée par lui c omme une sorte d’énergie d’immutabilité.” E. Gilson, Introduction à l’étude de Saint Augustin, 2nd ed., Paris, Vrin, 1943, p. 186, note 2; trans., L. Lynch, The Christian Philosophy of St. Augustine, New York: Random House, 1960, p. 313, note 2.

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  25. Cf. above, Chapter II, p. 15.

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  26. In idipsum quid ait, nisi quod mutari non potest? Caetera, quae sunt creata, aliter et aliter possunt esse; qui autem creavit, aliter et aliter non potest esse. Idipsum ergo ille est, quoniam dictum est ei: “Mutabis ea, et mutabuntur; tu autem idem ipse es, et anni tui non deficient” (Psalm 101: 27, 28). Igitur si ipse idem ipse est, mutari ex nulla parte potest …” Commentary on Psalm CXLVI, 11 (PL 37, 1906); cf. Commentary on Psalm CXXI, 5 (PL 37, 1622); CXXI, 6 (PL 37, 1623); CXLVI, 1 (PL 37, 1899), etc.; The Trinity, III, 2.8 (PL 42, 872).

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  27. On the Christian Way of Life, I, 14, 24 (PL 32, 1321).

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  28. Confessions, XIII, 31.46 (PL 32, 865). Of course, there are variant readings of this text; e.g., Ramorino has “… qui non aliquo modo est, sed quod est, est”. But in his latest edition (1962) Skutella follows the older and (I think) better version cited above. In any case Augustine’s meaning is perfectly clear: God exists not in some degree; He simply is.

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  29. Prologue of Summa Theologiae, Part One.

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  30. Ibid. Note St. Thomas’s frequent allusions to the order of our knowing in his introductory remarks to the Questions on God’s perfection and goodness, His infinity, His omnipresence and ubiquity, etc.

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  31. Cf. The Trinity, X, 5.7 (PL 42, 977); X, 9.12 (PL 42, 989); Confessions, X, 22.32 (PL 32, 795).

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  32. R. Berlinger, Augustins dialogische Metaphysik, Frankfurt am Main, 1962).

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  33. The City of God, XI, 10.3 (PL 41, 327).

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  34. Commentary on Psalm CI, sermon 2, 10 (PL 37, 1311).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Villanova University, USA

    James F. Anderson (Professor of Philosophy)

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  1. James F. Anderson
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© 1965 Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, Netherlands

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Anderson, J.F. (1965). Self-Identity. In: St. Augustine and being. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-9447-1_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-9447-1_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-011-8655-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-9447-1

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